Inflow Wins ShoreTel’s “World-Class Customer Satisfaction” Award for 2011

Inflow Communications, a leading provider of ShoreTel VOIP Unified Communication technology in the Northwest, was awarded ShoreTel’s highest honor for 2011. Based on independent 3rd party customer satisfaction surveys, Inflow maintained a “World-Class” customer satisfaction rating by scoring an average of 98% with all customers whom installed ShoreTel in 2011. Inflow is rated in categories like response times, technical competency, training, and the sales process.

Inflow Communications, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, focuses strictly on Unified Communication technologies like VOIP phone systems and video conferencing. Additionally, Inflow has the training and expertise to design, deploy, and support Unified Communication-capable data networks (LAN, WAN, and wireless).

Inflow Communications deploys ShoreTel Unified Communications Internationally to Singapore

Inflow Communications recently deployed a ShoreTel VOIP Business phone system for Fluidigm Corporation, headquartered in South San Francisco, California.  The initial phase of the project involved installing a 170-phone ShoreTel Unified Communication system in California last winter.  In August, Inflow Communications extended the capabilities of the single-image ShoreTel system into Fluidigm’s manufacturing facility in Singapore.

The Need:

Fluidigm had an antiquated Nortel business phone system installed in California.  The system was not supported, inflexible, and failing.  In addition to the need to replace this failing phone system, Fluidigm’s business was changing drastically and they needed the appropriate Unified Communications technology to meet those needs.  Their workforce was becoming increasing mobile and the current system didn’t support seamless smart phone integration.  Additionally, Fluidigm recently rolled out Salesforece.com CRM.  Fluidigm desired the ability to leverage the investment in the CRM system by tracking inbound / outbound calls to their service center, “pop” client records when they call in, and give their sales force the ability to easily dial clients via the clients’ records.   Last, Fluidigm needed to extend all of this functionality to their International offices, starting with Singapore.

The Solution:

Working with Fluidigm’s IT vendor, Inflow assisted in the design and deployment of a new Adtran POE network architecture.  On that VOIP-capable architecture, Inflow added ShoreTel ShoreGear voice appliances, application servers (for desktop call control, voicemail, reporting, etc), and IP phones.  ShoreGearT1K appliances were installed to terminate two (2) PRI circuits from the Public Switched Telephone Network.  Furthermore, ShoreTel’s native Salesforece.com integration software was added to facilitate the CRM integration.   Last, a ShoreTel Converged Conference bridge was installed to accommodate audio conferencing, secure Instant Messaging, and desktop sharing.

A 45 MB MPLS connection to Singapore was provisioned with the appropriate Quality of Service (QOS) to support video and Voice-over-IP data transmissions between the offices.  The Inflow engineering and professional training team traveled to Singapore to install the appropriate ShoreGear switches to accommodate an additional 80 IP phones and an E1 ISDN circuit.  This provided station-to-station dialing, presence management, and intelligent call routing with their US facilities.

Fluidigm plans on working with Inflow Communications to deploy ShoreTel to their Paris office next.

It’s Not Just a Phone System

Inflow continually strives to provide communications technology solutions that solve our customers’ business challenges. It’s important to not to see a business phone system as just that – a phone system. With the advances in Unified Communication technologies your phone system can (and should) become a platform that consolidates all forms of corporate communications into one, easy-to-use tool set. With ShoreTel, organizations can now leverage one application to communicate via VOIP audio, web collaboration, Instant Messaging, mobility / smart device integration, and video. Furthermore, because ShoreTel is standards-based, it can integrate with business-critical applications like CRM (Customer Relationship Management) applications and ERP systems.

Inflow Communications Deploys a ShoreTel VOIP phone system for Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort

Inflow Communications worked with Mt. Hood Meadows to deploy a ShoreTel Unified Communications system.

The problems that had to be solved:

1. Mt. Hood Meadows had an antiquated Toshiba business phone system that was years beyond its useful life
2. Cost savings was very important (when is it not?)
3. They needed a better way to intelligently route calls from their guests to the appropriate department and employee.  Previously, guests might get transferred into a big black hole.  Guests don’t like this and it’s not conducive for business.

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